2026 NPBL Opener: Rivers Hoopers send strong title message with emphatic win over Hoops & Read

Posted : 18 May 2026

Six-time champions Rivers Hoopers opened their 2026 Nigeria Premier Basketball League (NPBL) campaign in dominant fashion after cruising to an 84-58 victory over Hoops & Read at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.

The KingsMen, playing their first competitive game since falling narrowly to Maktown Flyers in the 2025 NPBL final, recovered from a slow start to completely take control of the contest.

Hoops & Read narrowly claimed the first quarter 17-15, but Rivers Hoopers responded strongly in the second period, overturning the deficit to take a 37-31 lead into halftime.

John Idoga led the charge for the Port Harcourt side, scoring 16 first-half points before finishing with a game-high 23 points to emerge as the Most Valuable Player of the encounter.

Rivers Hoopers raised the intensity after the break, overwhelming their opponents with a dominant third-quarter display. Idoga and team captain Victor Anthony Koko combined effectively as the defending finalists outscored Hoops & Read 30-15 in the quarter to establish a commanding lead.

With the game effectively sealed, interim head coach Ronald Alalibo rotated his squad in the closing stages as Rivers Hoopers comfortably secured a 26-point victory.

Koko contributed 18 points while Abel Offia added 10, with three Rivers Hoopers players finishing in double figures.

Despite the convincing result, Koko insisted the team still has room for improvement.

“Good win for the team, but we still have a lot of work to do. Most of the guys on the team are new players who need to get in tune with the playing philosophy,” he said.

Alalibo also admitted the squad is still adapting following recent additions to the roster.

“We’re still a work in progress. We have a few additions to our team and in our preparations, we anticipated some challenges in team chemistry,” Alalibo explained.

The assistant coach, who is temporarily in charge in the absence of veteran tactician Ogoh Odaudu, described the opportunity to lead the team as a memorable experience.

“It feels surreal to be in this position. As a coach, you expect that somewhere along the line you’ll be tasked with leading a team, but it still feels special,” he added.

Rivers Hoopers will now shift attention to their next fixture against Comets Basketball Club, with Alalibo expecting a more demanding test.

“We’re expecting a tougher opposition but we’ll try to take it one game at a time. Everybody wants to beat us and we’re aware of that.”

The dominant victory serves as a powerful opening statement for Rivers Hoopers as they look to redeem themselves after last season's final heartbreak. With core contributors stepping up and the coaching staff working to integrate new arrivals, the squad demonstrates both the depth and the drive required to challenge for the championship. Maintaining this clinical momentum will be vital as they prepare to navigate increasingly difficult opposition in the upcoming rounds of the campaign.

2026 NPBL Opener: Rivers Hoopers send strong title message with emphatic win over Hoops & Read

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